Twelve Ohio PGA professionals were in the field for the 2026 PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Seven members from the Southern Ohio PGA Section (SOPGA) and five from the Northern Ohio PGA Section (NOPGA).
A total of 312 PGA Professionals will tee it up at the 2026 PGA Professional Championship gunning for a spot into the PGA Championship at Aronimink.
Southern Ohio PGA
- Michael Auterson is the Head Professional at Hickory Woods Golf Course in Loveland, Ohio. He has been a PGA Professional since 2008 and has won several Southern Ohio PGA section events, plus qualifying for national PGA tournaments.
- Jared Jones is a PGA Professional affiliated with Scioto Country Club. He won the 80th Southern Ohio PGA Professional Championship in August 2025.
- Ben Kern gained PGA membership in 2017 and is the General Manager at Hickory Hills Golf Club, in Grove City.
- Chris Muse resides in Grove City and is the Head Professional at Hickory Hills Golf Club.
- Dan Sorgini was the Head Professional at Blacklick Woods Metro Golf Course and recently accepted a position as the Director of Golf for the City of Groveport.
- Bob Sowards is an Ohio Golf Hall of Fame member and has won nearly every award available for PGA Professionals. Sowards has competed in several national PGA Championships, his best finish was a T-5 at the 2021 Senior PGA Championship.
- Chase Wilson is a teaching professional at Columbus Country Club with over 75 professional wins. He was 2024 SOPGA Teacher & Coach of the Year, plus named the 2021 and 2023 SOPGA Player of the Year.
Northern Ohio PGA
- Jim Troy is associated with the Golf Dome and has been named NOPGA Player of the Year six of the last eight years. Jim’s brother Mike also is in the field at Bandon Dunes qualifying from the Illinois PGA Section.
- Mike Stone previously won the NOPGA Professional title in 2019 and fired three rounds of 72-73-69 to finish fourth in 2025 to earn a trip to Bandon Dunes. He is coming off competing in the Senior PGA Championship at the Concession Club.
- Jaysen Hansen, currently the Head Professional at historic Toledo Country Club, won the 2025 NOPGA PGA Professional to punch his ticket to Bandon Dunes. It was the second time Hansen has won the event. He also was the NOPGA champion in 2020.
- Mike Sierak, originally from Utica, New York, has been a PGA Professional in the Cleveland area since 2006. He was the Head Professional at Barrington for 13 years. He is a partner in Optimus Golf and was named the 2022 NOPGA Golf Professional of the Year.
- Anthony Panepento is from Wooster and is an Assistant Professional at the Canterbury Golf Club.
Good Luck to all the Ohio pros, we will share the results from the PGA Professional Championship in the June issue.
